PDP: Scanning The Soul Of A Bleeding Giant

The blame game scenario that postdate the woes of defeat of the ruling party in Nigeria, the People Democratic Party (PDP) took new approach with the party lieutenants engaging in intense internal struggles through strategic alignment to determine who take charge of the affairs of the once proud largest political party in Africa. Of course, no one can predict the demise of the giant so soon but it was pretty sure that the organism will not last to its expiration as the soul was already infected with viruses and bacteria who has added no value but reduce it to carcass as we are witnessing today, a party that once controlled more than two third of the states in the country is virtually heading to extinction.

The recent altercations among the party leadership across the country are pointers to the fact that the centre is struggling. Counter allegations of betrayal and sabotage has suddenly become songs among the gladiators; incompetency, favouritism and bad mouthing were also fingered behind the colossus exit of the giant. The wars of words between party chieftains exact the veracity of dissensus among party leaders who are brazing up for control. From the refusal of the national chairman of the party to call it a day; the calls from governors and other members on him to take the bow to the recent statement credited to President Jonathan that he was even sure that certain aide could not vote; these are indication of the damages done by the viruses and bacteria who have eaten deeply into the monstrous beast.

In the recent years, the major problem of the PDP is not about presidency but the leadership who have failed to garner the support and trust of the followers; leverage on the little achievements of their predecessors; reach out to the bewilders and form a collective strategy to position the party. This was not obvious until failure stared at them with one of the biggest revolution coming from an archery of politics in the country, who went into treaty with foes to form a stronger ties to pursue a common a course of displacing the seeming sleeping giant to take control of the country’s political structure, the efforts yielded not because of their popularity but partly because of the inability of the PDP to put its house in order.

In one of the recent outings, a chieftain and the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, attributed the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan and in extension, his party in the last elections to a “commonsense revolution” anchored on a rebellion against the excesses of the Peoples Democratic Party. The rebellion in the PDP by few governors was harped on leadership deficiency. President Jonathan himself played ostrich when he pretended that all is well despite a massive depletion in the rank of his armies. He was actually “rejoicing” probably because his “enemies” has been dislodged, in a real term, these enemies should have been managed, influenced and re-oriented at least for result purposes.

With these observations, the PDP as a party might not have seen the worst, past event will be child play compare to what is to come shortly. The gladiators apportioning blames over the abysmal performances of the party have one focus – To control the party at the centre. Gov. Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and Chief Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State are all in for the game. The new campaigners like Govs. Sule Lamido and Aliyu Babangida and other members who have expressed their minds on the resignation of the party helmsman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, are all in for the task, though in normal circumstances, Mu’azu should have resigned to pave way for smooth re-alignment.

The dismemberment will be worse than the days of Governors’ Forum; meanwhile the new smaller parties will be too minute to provide a viable opposition to the unassuming APC that might prey on the weak and the feeble. Why is it so difficult for a party that has achieved a lot in the country’s political expedition to provide itself with the leadership that is capable of providing a structure that will give them back the key to Aso Rock in 2019? The party failed not because of the elitist disengagement but majorly on the revolution from the younger generation who has seen it all that the existing leadership system cannot guarantee their tomorrow.

Continuous pushing for the removal of Adamu Muazu without a planned replacement is wrong and ill conceived. The party can do more by having a micro conference including the members of National Working Committee, members of the Board of Trustees and few notable chieftains most especially the direct beneficiaries of the party to decide the way forward instead of washing their dirty linen in the public. PDP has exposed their Achilles hill; they are quickly loosing the respect and failing in their responsibilities. This will be disastrous as the nation will be left with no viable opposition that may culminate to another set of excesses from the incoming government. Nigeria and the Nigerians remain the looser if PDP vanished.

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